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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  11. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. charge — in control
  4. spell — magic
  5. row — a line
  6. tear — from crying
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. spell — a short time
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. tear — from crying
  11. tear — to rip
  12. charge — electricity
  13. charge — a price
  14. row — to paddle
  15. bore — to tire
  16. can — a tin
  17. bulb — for light
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bore — to drill
  22. spell — letters
  23. toast — bread
  24. toast — a drink to someone

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com